FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION 

DA-2022-13 

March 23, 2022 

Subject: APHIS Establishes a Quarantine for Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) in 

 New York State 

To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials 

Effective immediately, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the New York State Agriculture and Markets 

(NYSAGM), is establishing a quarantine for the box tree moth (BTM) in Erie, Niagara, and Orleans

Counties in the State of New York. 

BTM is a destructive pest of boxwood (Buxus species). APHIS is taking this action in response to 

confirmed detections of all BTM life stages in Niagara County, New York. BTM was first detected in 

New York on July 16, 2021. This is the first detection of a breeding population of BTM in the United 

States. Since the initial detection, APHIS has worked with NYSAGM to restrict host movement, delimit 

the infestation, engage stakeholders, and conduct outreach. APHIS, NYSAGM, industry, and research 

partners are working closely to develop useful pest control tools. 

APHIS is prohibiting the interstate movement of regulated articles of Buxus sp. from Erie, Niagara, and 

Orleans Counties in New York. Regulated articles include the whole plant, all plant parts, pieces, 

cuttings, clippings, debris, and any portion of the plant, alive or dead. APHIS is taking this action to 

prevent the spread of BTM to the rest of the United States. These measures parallel the intrastate 

quarantine that NYSAGM established on December 10, 2021. 

The attached Federal Order outlines the safeguarding measures required for protecting the industry from 

this pest. The Federal Order and additional information about BTM may be found at: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-anddiseases/box-tree-moth

For additional information, please contact the National Policy Manager, Allen Proxmire, at (301) 851-

2307. 

Mark L Davidson, DVM, MS 

Acting Deputy Administrator 

Plant Protection and Quarantine 

Attachment: Federal Order DA-2022-13 
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Federal Order

Domestic Quarantine for Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) 

DA-2022-13 

March 23, 2022 

Effective immediately, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the New York State Department of Agriculture and 

Markets (NYSAGM), is establishing a quarantine for the box tree moth (BTM) in Erie, Niagara, and 

Orleans Counties in the State of New York. This action is in response to the detection of a BTM 

population in Niagara County, New York. This Federal Order prohibits the movement of regulated 

articles of boxwood (Buxus species) from Niagara, Erie, and Orleans Counties to prevent the spread of 

BTM to other parts of the United States. These measures parallel the intrastate quarantine that 

NYSAGM established on December 10, 2021. 

This Federal Order is issued in accordance with the regulatory authority provided by Section 412(a) of 

the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 7712(a). The Act authorizes the 

Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant 

part, plant product, or article if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to 

prevent the dissemination of a plant pest within the United States. The regulatory authority provided by 

7 U.S.C. 7754 allows the Secretary to issue orders to carry out this provision of the Plant Protection Act. 

To prevent the spread of BTM, APHIS considers it necessary to implement the quarantine and regulate 

the interstate movement of regulated articles of Buxus sp. from Erie, Niagara, and Orleans Counties in 

New York. Therefore, effective immediately, APHIS prohibits the interstate movement of regulated 

articles of Buxus sp. from the quarantine area. Regulated articles include the whole plant, all plant parts, 

pieces, cuttings, clippings, debris, and any portion of the plant, alive or dead. 

The Administrator may designate a whole state or an area less than an entire state if the Administrator 

determines, as in this case, that the designation of less than an entire state is adequate to prevent the 

interstate spread of BTM. In addition, less than an entire state may be quarantined if the Administrator 

determines that the affected state enforces equivalent restrictions and regulations for intrastate 

movement to effectively mitigate the spread of the pest. NYSAGM has established an equivalent 

quarantine and restrictions for intrastate movement of Buxus sp. in New York. 

This Federal Order and information about BTM may be found at:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-anddiseases/box-tree-moth
For more information about the BTM response program, contact National Policy Manager, Allen 

Proxmire, at 301-851-2307. 

A. Quarantine Areas

The quarantine area includes Erie, Niagara, and Orleans Counties in the State of New York. 

B. Regulated Articles

Regulated articles include all species, varieties, and hybrids of Buxus sp., commonly called boxwood or 

box tree. Regulated articles include the whole plant, all plant parts, pieces, cuttings, clippings, debris, 

and any portion of the plant, alive or dead. 

Regulated articles are prohibited from leaving the quarantine area. 

C. Compliance Agreements

Any entity within the quarantine area that wants to commercially grow and/or sell Buxus sp. must enter 

and abide by a compliance agreement. The compliance agreement shall include but not be limited to the 

following restrictions:

The compliance agreement holder must:

• Apply pest management practices and other safeguards. 

• Allow inspectors to survey and inspect regulated articles and other plants as necessary. 

• Actively ensure Buxus sp. sold from their facility does not leave the quarantine area. 

• Label each Buxus sp. plant for sale with a red tag that reads: 

Definitions

Administrator: The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or any person 

authorized to act for the Administrator. 

Compliance Agreement: A written agreement between APHIS and/or state authorities with an 

authorized person engaged in the business of growing, handling, or moving of regulated articles in 

which the authorized person agrees to comply with specific requirements. 

Interstate: From any State into or through any other State. 

Inspector: Any employee of APHIS, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or other person authorized by 

the Administrator to perform the duties required under this Order. 

Quarantine area: Any State, or any portion of a State, listed in this Federal Order. 

Buxus sp. – Regulated Article – Quarantine Material

By USDA APHIS PPQ Federal Order, this plant may not leave the Box Tree Moth 

quarantine area. Ask your retailer for more details or visit:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-diseaseprograms/pests-and-diseases/box-tree-moth